Do Drugs Enhance Creativity? COREY TAYLOR Weighs In

Corey Taylor

SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has has discussed if the use of drugs to enhance creativity during an appearance on the latest installment of the “Marshall Podcast.”

When asked if the musicians’ ability to write music is improved when they are drinking or using drugs, he responded: “I think it’s encouraged by the people who are actually embedded in that. They want people to think that it’s hard to create without chemicals. And that’s addict language, because I used to do that for me from a performing standpoint.

“I was convinced that I couldn’t perform if I didn’t have a Jack and Coke — at least one,” Corey continued. And then that became two. And then that became half a bottle. That’s addiction. So I think that’s a myth perpetuated by addicts who are looking for people to reinforce their dependency. And it’s easy — especially when you see the antics and hear the, ‘Such a great time.’ And there were great times.

However, that had nothing to do with making an album; that had nothing to do with writing and performing and using your ability,” musician added “That was the after-effect; that was the after-party.

“I have only been loaded in the studio twice, and I didn’t like it one bit, ’cause I couldn’t control anything. And then listening back to sh*t, I was, like, ‘Oh, this is horrible. Why did I do that?’ So, I’ve really tried to kind of kill that myth for people.

“If that’s what you think, then, I mean, God bless you; that’s fine,” he added. “If that’s what works for you, that’s what works for you. I’m not gonna convince you otherwise.

“However, it is not the law of the land. You don’t have to be loaded to f*cking create. You don’t have to be loaded to f*cking have a good time. I actually think you sound better and play better and you have a better energy when you’re not [loaded]. Because then the focus is on you. There are no excuses after that. It’s you, and that’s the rawness of what we do.”

SLIPKNOT released their sixth studio album, We Are Not Your Kind, on August 9 via Roadrunner Records. Album was once again recorded at a Los Angeles studio with producer Greg Fidelman, who engineered and mixed SLIPKNOT‘s 2004 album Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) and helmed 2014’s .5: The Gray Chapter.